Round and Round

We left Macedonia. FYR Macedonia if you please.

The border into Greece was slow but painless. We think it was more 'mediterranean' in its efficiency rather than anything else - there were only six cars in front of us but time was taken.  However we were in the shade and from the swallows(?) nests stuck to the underside of the roof we weren't the only ones appreciating the shade. That and the peacocks that strutted backwards and forwards across the border without passports or visas.

We promised the Customs officials that we would only use cash in Greece and everything was fine.

Since leaving Durres in Albania we had climbed to about 1000m and stayed there. The air temperature in the shade was fine, but the sun was hot.

In Albania it would have been impossible to run out of petrol as there were so many petrol stations. Macedonia was similar, but we weren't quite sure about Greece - had austerity and lack of cash closed them down? So we filled up just after the border. This is oil country by the looks of it. Sunflower and corn.

 

 

                           

We were soon in the mountains again and there were masses of organic feta cheese machines everywhere. It was a long coffee/photo break during which time not one car came past. Clearly a road not often travelled. Which was confirmed on the descent as it clearly hadn't been maintained. There were plants growing out of the cracks in the tarmac and the branches of the trees encroached somewhat on the road.

The afternoon was in the plain riding down to Thessaloniki and somewhat less interesting, except for the loads of apple orchards. Or were they peaches? No, they were giant nectarines and the cafe owner where we stopped in the afternoon gave us some as a present. It's Nectarine harvest time here in Greece!

                         
 

We had decided to stop in the hills outside of Thessaloniki as Paul had been into town previously and thought it not very nice. So we have a panoramic view of Thessaloniki from the Hotel Panorama in Panorama  - maybe that's where the word comes from?

                           

Oh, and we are back in Macedonia now. The other one.

We are not sure whether it is this area of Greece or austerity but there is literally no one on the roads. We tend to eat early both at lunchtime and in the evening, but there is never anyone in the restaurants yet there are tables for 60 people or more. At lunch we were the only people in the beachside restaurant. In the evening we were one of four tables at the best restaurant in Alexandroupolis.

 

Note that the locals say it is not hot now - July is the hottest month. But we are hot. Very hot.

We are still in the other/original Macedonia, but tomorrow is Turkey and one of the things to do will be to leave Europe and pass into Asia. Oh, and listen to a different countries waiters explaining how they have the worst drivers in the world.